The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has gave its greenlight to the Tk 161.04 billion project for upgrading the meter gauge tracks of the Akhaura-Sylhet railway to dual gauge.
The approval came on Tuesday (Apr 9) from the ECNEC meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, reports BSS.
Briefing the reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said that a total of 7 projects were approved today (Tuesday) involving an overall estimated cost of Tk 181.91 billion.
“Of the total project cost, Tk 66.22 billon will come from the state exchequer while the rest of Tk 115.69 billion from project assistance,” he said.
All the approved 7 projects are new projects.
The Planning Minister said the conversion of the Akhaura-Sylhet Section Dual Gauge Conversion project will be implemented by June 2025 with Tk 106.54 billion project assistances from China on G to G basis.
Under the project, some 225 kilometer existing meter gauge railway track under the Akhaura-Sylhet section would be converted into 239.14 kilometer dual gauge track.
Besides, the other major project operations includes construction of 49 major and 237 minor bridges, signaling works at 22 stations, construction of 16,690 square meter residential buildings, barrack and dormitory, and some 200.30 acres of land acquisition.
According to the Planning Commission, the Akhaura-Sylhet section is very important considering economic aspect, tourism and internal and regional connectivity.
The Planning Minister said that the implementation rate of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) during the July-March period of the current fiscal year reached 47.24 percent with an expenditure of Tk 834.32 billion. The ADP implementation rate during the July-March period of the last fiscal year was 45.65 percent with an expenditure of Tk 719.4 billion.
Mannan said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the meeting has directed the concerned authorities to ensure that the government officials at the field-level remain in their job areas with their families so that they could give utmost concentration in their works.
Besides, she also renewed her directive to keep sufficient open space, veranda and ventilation system, fire extinguishing system and keeping ponds and water bodies nearby before setting up any government establishment, discouraging acquisition of arable land for project purpose, but if needed providing necessary compensation and ensuring rehabilitation of the affected people.
The Prime Minister also stressed the need for continuing River dredging to maintain the navigability of those.
The day’s ECNEC meeting also approved the Indian Economic Zone at Mirsharai project in Chattogram involving Tk 9.2 billion in a bid to attract more Indian investors in the country.
Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) will implement the project by June 2021 with Tk 9.2 billion from the Indian 3rd Line of Credit. The main objectives of the project are to develop off-site infrastructures at the Indian Economic Zone to facilitate Indian investors including attracting the Indian developer companies to invest in Bangladesh.
Besides, steps will be taken to attract the Indian companies to set up their industrial units there through ensuring a business-friendly environment as well as improving the living standards of local people through generating employments and thus ensuring sustainable economic development.
The main project operations include some 152 lakh cubic meter land development, erection of 9-kilometer long pipeline from the Feni River to ensure necessary water supply and drainage system, constructing 10-kilometer long connecting road, establishment of a pump station, a water reservoir, internal linkage, external drainage line construction, construction of 5,000 meter boundary wall, 1680 square meter administrative building, 20603 square feet security shed and installation of optical fiber.
The other approved projects include construction of Chattogram Hill Tracts Regional Parishad Complex Construction Project with Tk 2.44 billion, Expansion of Magura-Sripur district highway including straightening of curves with Tk 2.15 billion, Construction of new office building and auditorium of Khulna Divisional Commissioner with Tk 1.39 billion, Installation of safe and healthy dry fish processing and indoor farming research related facilities at the Dhaka and Chattogram centers of BCSIR with Tk 8.9 million.